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RIYADH, 1 November 2004 — Prince Faisal ibn Salman, chairman of Saudi Research & Marketing Group, has announced the establishment of Prince Ahmad ibn Salman Institute for Applied Media Training, the first of its kind in the Kingdom.

“All administrative measures have been completed, license has been issued and a temporary headquarters has been established for the institute to start its activities,” a press statement issued by the company said.

Prince Faisal, who is chairman of the institute’s constituent council, said the institute would be able to meet the requirements of media industry in the Kingdom as well as in the Gulf region. “It is designed to match the technological development in the media sector,” he said.

“The institute has now become a reality after obtaining the license to start its activities,” the prince said. The institute will offer training in all activities related to media industry, he added.

He commended the support given by Saudi media organizations as well as the General Organization for Technical Education and Vocational Training (GOTEVOT) to the project. “We have set up a committee to discuss the institute’s training programs and courses,” he said, adding that it would be officially launched shortly.

Turki Al-Sudairy, a member of the constituent committee and editor in chief of Al-Riyadh Arabic daily, said the institute would contribute greatly in helping Saudi youth to master modern technology related to printing, publishing and advertising.

“There is no more shortage of Saudi editors and reporters as every year tens of youths graduate from the departments of journalism. So, we are now focusing on training Saudis to take up technical and professional jobs at media and printing institutions,” he said.

Dr. Ali Al-Ghafees, governor of GOTEVOT, emphasized the significance of the institute to help Saudi youths find more jobs in media organizations. He called for opening similar institutes in other sectors in cooperation with the private sector.

Earlier, the institute’s constituent committee held a meeting under the chairmanship of Prince Faisal and approved its strategic objectives. Apart from Sudairy, Khaled Al-Malik, editor in chief of Al-Jazirah, Dr. Hashim Abdu Hashim, editor in chief of Okaz, and Muhammad Al-Waeel, editor in chief of Al-Yaum, attended the meeting.

The committee urged all organizations specializing in printing, publishing and advertising to join the founders through the constituent council. The meeting also discussed many ideas to make the institute a leader in training youths in media work at the regional level.

Dr. Azzam Al-Dakhil, managing director of Saudi Research & Publishing Company, Dr. Fahd Al-Saeed, director general of Saudi Distribution, and Nasser Al-Serami, director of electronic publishing department, were also present at the meeting.